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Ebbin and Stovell chuffed with RBYC sweep

Rough seas: Bermuda’s Amelia Lewis leads Yann Menard, of the US, in the Great Sound during racing this week (Photograph by Peter Backeberg)

Bermuda sailors achieved a rare feat after capturing the boys and girls titles at the PwC Bermuda Optimist National and Open Championships for the first time in nearly a decade.

Christian Ebbin defended his overall title while Royal Bermuda Yacht Club team-mate Nicole Stovell captured a maiden girls title.

Ebbin coped best in the challenging conditions, which had winds gusting to 30 knots, winning four of the eight races contested to finish ten points clear of nearest rival Freddie Parkin, of the United States. Tyler Lamm, also of the US, finished third.

“It felt good to be able to go out there and do it all over again,” said Ebbin, who captured a maiden national title last year.

“There were some strong sailors in the fleet, so I knew I had to give it my best.

“I got very lucky racing was cancelled the first day, as it was way too windy in the Great Sound. We went out for a quick practice and a part broke on my boat. If that had happened in official racing, I would not have been so lucky.”

Stovell, who posted two top-ten showings, was equally delighted to claim the girls title.

“Thankfully, everything did go to plan,” she said. “There was definitely some tough competition out there, and I got a little worried at times, but it all fell into place at the end.

“Going into the last race, I was only about four points ahead of Laura Hupman, so I had to be smart and play it safe.

“I did my best and I’m glad to leave this event feeling satisfied and happy with everything that came out of it.”

Hupman, who also competes under the RBYC banner, finished second among the girls, followed by Bella Shakespeare, of the US, in third.

The championships took place over the Remembrance Day weekend and featured 118 youth sailors from the US, Canada, Cayman Islands, Britain and Bermuda.

Action in Hamilton Harbour from the younger classes in the PwC Bermuda Optimist National and Open Championships (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)